The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent the majority of the 2025 offseason dealing with controversy surrounding the team’s quarterback situation. The fan base has waited for months for Aaron Rodgers to commit to playing for the organization, and that possibility is finally expected to come to fruition with the future Hall of Famer preparing to sign in the Steel City on Friday.
Now that there seems to be some legitimate certainty to the franchise’s signal-caller position, general manager Omar Khan will have the opportunity to put his foot on the gas pedal as mandatory minicamp gets set to begin on Tuesday.
Signing a veteran like Rodgers to a one-year deal does not signal any kind of rebuild. If an organization is bringing in a 41-year-old quarterback to lead the offense, it can officially be looked at as a situation where all systems are a go. Pittsburgh’s offense still needs some upgrades, specifically at the wide receiver position, but the team may be more than a pass-catcher away from being a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
This is where Khan will come into play in the coming weeks. The Steelers are projected to have 12 draft selections in 2026, which will allow the front office to be very aggressive if trade opportunities arise. Wide receiver Gabe Davis was in for a visit on Thursday, but nothing has suggested yet that he has left with a contract.
Offensive weapons will be crucial for the Steelers once the regular season rolls around, and Khan has the arsenal to go out and make moves in both free agency and in the trade markets. The options may be slim to the public eye, but the leader of Pittsburgh’s front office certainly will be able to pursue some moves if he is willing to pay up for whoever is available.
If Rodgers is able to lead a formidable offense, then the defensive effort will be pivotal. A respectable offense to go along with one of the NFL’s best defenses could suddenly lead to the Steelers being contenders. If Khan and the coaching staff see it as necessary to go out and make a splash move for a defender (Jalen Ramsey, anyone?), the resources are there to pursue something.
Overall, Rodgers signing with Pittsburgh could make the organization a much more attractive landing spot for a number of free agents as well. Amari Cooper and Keenan Allen suddenly may be a little more inclined to pick up the phone if there is a 412 area code buzzing in, with all due respect to Mason Rudolph.
Rodgers is a Super Bowl champion and one of the best to ever do it. Him being healthy at 41 is still better than most quarterbacks throughout the NFL.
